Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson [Paperback]

Maria Murnane (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 9, 2010

Waverly Bryson is a successful businesswoman in her late 20s who almost has it all: a dream job in sports PR, two best friends, and a bar where everybody knows her name. What she doesn’t have is a ring on her finger. And after being ditched at the altar, she’s in no hurry to get one. Besides, plenty of other issues keep her busy, including her wayward father, a new rival at work, and an ever-nagging fear that her life is not turning out as she thought it would . . . or should. To stay sane, Waverly makes a habit of jotting down “Honey Notes,” self-deprecating bits of single-girl humor that she hopes to one day develop into a line of greeting cards. Can’t face the dating scene after a bad breakup? Honey, hit the bar, and hit it hard. Beer goggles are the lonely girl’s Cupid. As Waverly stumbles back into the dating scene (no stalkers or jean shorts, please), her personal and professional lives threaten to collide. Perfect on Paper reminds listeners that everyone has had a bad date (or twelve), and that everyone needs a best friend to tell them, “Honey, you are not alone.”

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

“Meet the new Bridget Jones.” (PopSugar Daily)

“A light and funny read…If you’ve ever felt like your life wasn’t going the way you’d planned, then you can’t help but connect with Waverly’s tale.” (Becky Lejeune for Bookbitch.com)

Anything can look perfect on paper. When her fiancé calls off their wedding at the last minute, Waverly Bryson wonders if her life will ever turn out the way she thought it would...or should. Her high-powered job in sports PR? Not so perfect. Her relationship with her dad? Far from it. Her perfect marriage? Enough said. To keep sane, Waverly makes a habit of jotting down "Honey Notes," her own brand of self-deprecating wisdom and a pipe-dream for a line of greeting cards.

As Waverly stumbles back into the dating scene (no stalkers or jean shorts, please), her personal and professional lives threaten to collide. Perfect on Paper reminds us that everyone has a bad date (or twelve), and that everyone eventually needs a best friend to tell them, “Honey, you are not alone.”

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10 First Date Don'ts Waverly Bryson Has Learned the Hard Way, by Maria Murnane

1. Don’t order spaghetti
2. Don’t take off your sweater unless you’re SURE you’re wearing something underneath it
3. Don’t be afraid to get up and leave if the guy:

a. starts texting
b. brings up his ex-girlfriend and/or wife
c. doesn’t order alcohol immediately

4. Don’t overdo the self-tanner
5. Don’t feel guilty if you find the waiter more appealing than your date
6. Don’t have more than one or two drinks
7. Don’t forget his name
8. Don’t allude to anything in the future
9. Don’t be afraid to order your own dessert
10. Don’t worry--it will be over soon enough

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From the Author

I wrote this book for any woman who has ever had a really bad date or realized halfway through the work day that her skirt is on backwards. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: AmazonEncore (February 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982555040
• ISBN-13: 978-0982555040
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (416 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maria Murnane abandoned a successful career in public relations to pursue a more fulfilling life as a novelist and speaker. Since then she has written four best-selling Waverly Bryson novels: Perfect on Paper (2010), It's a Waverly Life (2011), Honey on Your Mind (2012), and Chocolate for Two (2013). Her next book will be released in early 2014.


Check out Maria's Web site at www.mariamurnane.com for more information about what she's up to and/or to subscribe to her newsletter. She loves to hear from readers, so please drop her a note!

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#59 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#75 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

#59 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#75 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 115 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect on Paper May 22, 2008

By Kelly VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Waverly Bryson never thought she would be lucky enough to find true love. She never dreamed she would be the fiancée of wealthy eligible bachelor Aaron Vaughn III. Two weeks before the wedding, he told her he couldn't marry her because he wasn't sure if he really loved her, but he felt really bad for hurting her. Waverly was devastated.

The first year post breakup only netted Waverly three dates, and all of them were duds until meeting Jake McIntyre at a trade show in Atlanta. She had made a fool of herself getting drunk, and leaving a slow dance mid way through to throw up in the ladies room. After that fiasco, she spent most of her free time with best friends McKenna and Andie opting to cut her losses when it came to men.

Since everything else in her life was falling apart it was par for the course that her perfect professional life in PR was unraveling around her. She was passed over for an assignment to a new account, and then an account that she had spent years on, was given to her nemesis. When it was getting to the point that she couldn't force herself to be there anymore, fate stepped in a turned all aspects of her life upside down.

This was a light funny read. Waverly is a multi layered complete klutz that has the philosophy it is either laugh or cry in most situations. She tries to find the humor in it the majority of the time. I think Murphy is her enemy because Murphy's Law definitely shadows her. What can, usually does go wrong. A good effort from this new author. Only one criticism that really made me cringe is her constant reference to men as boys. It was always I met a boy when there are so many other words to use, and that just doesn't sound right coming from a thirty-year-old woman.

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beer Goggles are the Lonely Girl's Cupid. -Waverly Bryson June 11, 2008

By Cherise Everhard TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Two weeks before she is due to walk down the aisle and marry Mr. Perfect, Waverly Bryson gets dumped. After being in a relationship for several years with this man she goes through the normal "I just got dumped and I never want to leave my house mourning period," but with a little help from her friends, she heals, little by little and day by day. Getting on with her life means working, hanging with her two best friends and of course, dating. In the midst of all this she writes quirky little sayings, from her daily misadventures, which she hopes to use in a greeting card line.

This is probably one of the best books I have read all year. I laughed so hard, so loud and so many times throughout this book and when I wasn't laughing, I was smiling. Waverly is easy to identify with and the friends she surrounds herself with are as unforgettable and just as loveable as she is herself.

Waverly is not without flaws or faults and the reader gets to see her make mistakes, get laughed at, laugh at herself, learn and grow... All the while the author makes sure you don't want to set the book down, ever. The dates she goes out on are hilariously horrifying and unfortunately some are hauntingly familiar. Ladies, I challenge you not to find at least one of your former dates in this book.

As intriguing and wonderful a heroine as Waverly is, this book wouldn't be anything without the supporting cast. It's really not just about Waverly, but about her and her relationships with her girlfriends, men friends, work chums and even her father. How each relationship shapes her in some way and how she finds and sees herself among them.

At the beginning of each chapter in this well told tale is a sampling of Waverly's greeting card line that she has been writing. I found myself looking forward to that as much as I was looking forward to the actual story; they are witty and funny. This book is everything I love about chick lit and more. I am looking forward to reading more from this author; she has made a new fan!

Cherise Everhard, June 2008

80 of 94 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this book but it just wasn't in the cards December 30, 2009

By J. Kollasch VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

When this book was recommended to me by Amazon I became very excited. I hadn't read a good chick lit book in a while and this one seemed to have a plot that was both interesting and a little bit different. Sadly I was wrong and it was just like pretty much every other chick lit book I've read.

Meet Waverly Bryson, a not yet 30 sports PR agent who doesn't like sports. Two weeks before her wedding her fiance calls it off because he rushed into the decision and just doesn't love her anymore. There really isn't much as far as plot that I haven't read before it basically follows Waverly as she dates a bunch of losers and tries to find the one man she's actually compatible with. She also has two quirky gals pals to aid her in her "misadventures". Waverly starts writing greeting cards in her spare time called "honey notes" aimed toward cheering up/helping single women everywhere. As she starts to hate her job (did I mention this plot has been used before) the "honey notes" start to take center stage in her life.

Each chapter is headed with a "honey note" and about a third of the way through the book I had pretty much had my fill of them. While I liked Waverly as far as characters go I just didn't really want to read this book after the first couple of chapters. It was boring. I'm hoping that the next book by Maria Murnane is better but it isn't going to be something that I run out and instantly purchase.